ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University softball team returned home on Monday afternoon for a NACC doubleheader against the Concordia University Chicago Cougars. Unfortunately it was a difficult day for the Regents as the Cougars won both games by finals of 11-0 and 9-3.
Game one was never really in doubt as the Regents were only able to muster two hits compared to fourteen for the Cougars. Following a scoreless first inning of play, Concordia Chicago broke the tie the top of the second with a single run off two hits to grab a 1-0 lead. The Cougars then proceeded to blow the game wide open with a seven-run third and three-run fourth en route to an 11-0 victory.
A very bright spot in the opener for Rockford was the bat of freshman Brittany Bihun (Schaumburg, Ill.). Bihun went a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate to record all of Rockford's hits in the game.
Game two also got off to a difficult start as the Regents once again dug themselves into an early hole. The Cougars opened the game scoring four runs in the first, one run in the second and two more in the fourth to take a 7-0 lead.
Fortunately, the ladies were finally able to break through with single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. In the fifth it was Lynn Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.) who got things started on the right foot with a leadoff double to right field. After a groundout moved her to third, Abigail Wellwood (Rockford, Ill.) drove in the Regents' first run of the day with an RBI groundout. In the sixth it was Lisa Blakeley-Snyder (Winnebago, Ill.) that jump-started the offense with a leadoff single and then stole second to put herself in scoring position. Three batters later, Brooke Burris (Galatia, Ill.) came through with a clutch two-out RBI single into right center as Rockford pulled to within five at 7-2. The Regents' final run of the game came in the seventh when Lynn Blakeley-Snyder began the inning with a walk and then stole second. Two batters later, Abigail Wellwood drove in the final run of the game with a single into center field to score Blakeley-Snyder. Unfortunately it was not enough as Rockford fell by a final score of 9-3.
The RU softball team returns to the diamond on Tuesday, April 18 against Maranatha Baptist. First pitch of the doubleheader starts at 6:00 p.m. at Swanson Park in Roscoe, Illinois.
